MovieChat Forums > Hairspray (1988) Discussion > This is my favorite version

This is my favorite version

posted 16 years ago by Britlove
14 replies | jump to latest

I really don't understand people who hate this movie. I think it is the original and BEST incarnation of Hairspray. Why? It's plain and simple. It's the FUNNIEST and WITTIEST version. I don't care that it's not a musical, the soundtrack is AMAZING and introduced me to some awesome oldies which I would've never heard before. Plus I think the characters in this version are again just FUNNIER!! I've watched this movie 100000 times and it never gets old, whereas I watched the movie muscial once, liked it, but missed the funny and i love musicals!!!

[–] herjabram 16 years ago

I 100% agree!

[–] johnozed 16 years ago

You are soooo right. This version is by far the best version. The most laughs per minute and without the irritating John Travolta too! Divine was wonderful and 100% believable as a woman. The musical version, I kept thinking, oh it's JOhn Travolta in drag, ho hum. And the songs are a lot better. I liked the musical version and like you Britlove, I've seen this 8 million times and I LOVE IT!
It's got a good beat and you can dance to it!

you say you'll change the Constitution well, you know, we all want to change your Head

[–] slinkykat13 16 years ago

I'd say this is my favorite version, but I haven't seen the play or remake, so that'd be a little unfair. I just know that I adore this movie! I've been watching it repeatedly since I first saw it in 1996. Since then, I have watched nearly all of John Waters' films (that I could find!), and have become a huge fan of his work. So it's understandable that I didn't want to watch a watered-down uber-family-friendly version of a favorite film. Why make it a musical when the soundtrack/score is so great? But more to the point, WHY remake a film that was perfectly good to begin with? Just to give Disney's latest crop of cash-cow-kids a vehicle to milk more money? No thanks. If ain't broke, don't fix it - and this '88 gem sure wasn't broke!

[–] rdpepper 15 years ago

I agree, there is so much more to the characters in this movie, the other one is taken up with too many songs, most of which sound alike. Penny's mother was a million times funnier in this version, I love when she was trying to find Penny and the guy asks her for money and the entire neighborhood is laughing at her.

Rikki Lake is the best Tracy ever and no one will ever be better than Divine. Also Link is this movie was much more believable than mr high school musical.

[–] jrsl88 15 years ago

Not only do I love this film better than the musical, this film is also on my list of 200 greatest features from the 20th century.

SOCK IT TO ME

[–] blondiegal397 15 years ago

Yes I agree it's the best version. I'm watching it right now...and I like this version so much more. I didn't like that they cast Zac Efron in the remake...really? really? He's overrated.

Gus: “I believe it’s called a tweet.”
Shawn: “There’s no way I’m saying that.”

[–] ShawnaC123 15 years ago

This is one of my favorite movies ever. John Waters is brilliant.

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[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pazuzusjc 14 years ago

I can't even watch the latter one, this is the original and best!

[–] angelicscars_55 14 years ago

I remember watching this moving on, I believe Lifetime, a long while back and I fell in love with it! It's so raw & funny. I actually found this movie on VHS at a garage sale I believe. I need to find the DVD of it, but I was soo excited to finally own the original movie :)

[–] jac91604 14 years ago

When I watch Divine in this he is Edna, when you watch Travolta, all I see is Travolta.

This was the best version.